dental discount planhttp://www.wisebread.com/taxonomy/term/10043/all
en-USOpen Wide: 5 Ways to Score Discount Dental Carehttp://www.wisebread.com/open-wide-5-ways-to-score-discount-dental-care
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<p>Most of us dread going to the dentist, but it&rsquo;s a necessary evil if we don&rsquo;t want our teeth to fall out of our faces. The dreams I have about that are bad enough.</p>
<p>But dental fees without insurance can be costly &mdash; and prohibitive. Many people won&rsquo;t go to the dentist to fix whatever&rsquo;s ailing their mouths because they can&rsquo;t afford it (there are 45 million Americans younger than 65 who don&rsquo;t have dental coverage). That&rsquo;s a very dangerous practice because the problem can turn quite serious quickly &mdash; and then there&rsquo;s really no choice in the matter.</p>
<p>To help you keep your pearly whites in pristine condition without having to take out a second mortgage, here are some alternative ways to get good dental care at reduced rates. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-find-free-or-cheap-health-resources">How to Find Free (or Cheap) Health Care Resources</a>)</p>
<h3>
<ph3>1. Go Back to (Dental) School </ph3>
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<p><ph3> </ph3></p>
<p>Some <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/haircuts-to-dentistry-and-more-get-low-cost-services-from-students">dental schools</a> provide services for cheaper than they would be at a regular practice. The work comes from students under the supervision of dentists. To find a dental school in your area, visit the <a href="http://www.ada.org/">American Dental Association</a>. I had one of my wisdom teeth extracted at a dental school after it became abscessed because I was without insurance after I graduated college. I saved a lot of money &mdash; it was probably about 80% of what it would have cost if I had gone to my regular dentist without insurance. Also, when I was a kid, my mom took me to a dental school for teeth cleanings during periods where we didn&rsquo;t have dental insurance, and I highly recommend it. If no dental schools are in your area, perhaps there&rsquo;s a <a href="http://www.adha.org/careerinfo/dir_education.htm">dental hygiene school</a>. Two different schools, but both will make your mouth happier.</p>
<h3>2. Join a Discount Dental Plan</h3>
<p><a href="http://dentalplans.offerit.com/track/MjAwMTAzLjI5LjI5LjMwLjAuMC4wLjAuMC4wLjAuMA">DentalPlans</a>&nbsp;is a great resource for those without insurance who are seeking lower-cost dental care. The site allows users to search, compare, and select from more than 30 discount dental plans that offer savings of 10% to 60% off most dental procedures. To find a dentist near you, just type in your ZIP&nbsp;code to search available plans, dentists in your area who participate, and the costs of the plans.</p>
<h3>3. Sign Up for Daily Deals</h3>
<p>Best known for discounts on lifestyle goods, sites like <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/5-awesome-alternatives-to-groupon">Groupon and Living Social</a> are starting to help people fill their insurance voids. According to <a href="http://DealRadar.com">Deal Radar</a>, about 1 out of every 11 deals offered online is for a health care service. Personally, I&rsquo;ve purchased a couple of teeth-whitening Groupons that saved me a lot of money. I know that&rsquo;s a cosmetic procedure, but it&rsquo;s something that my insurance wouldn&rsquo;t cover, and I&rsquo;m too cheap to pay the regular $600 fee; the $149 price tag was much more appealing.</p>
<h3>4. Find One-Time Freebies</h3>
<p>Check out <a href="http://freedentalwork.org/">Free Dental Work</a> for free dental clinic event listings. This resource can be especially helpful if you have children in need of dental care.</p>
<h3>5. Search for Price Breaks</h3>
<p>Can't find a dental school in your area? No worries. You may be able to find the care you're looking for on the <a href="http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/">National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research</a> website. Once you're on the site, click on the &ldquo;Finding Dental Care&rdquo; section to locate dentists and programs that offer discounted dental care in your area.</p>
<p><em>Do you have other ideas on how to get quality dental care when there&rsquo;s no insurance available? Let me know in the comments below.</em></p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/mikey-rox">Mikey Rox</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/open-wide-5-ways-to-score-discount-dental-care">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-2">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Health and Beautydentaldental discount planhealth careFri, 01 Jun 2012 10:24:09 +0000Mikey Rox932407 at http://www.wisebread.comHealthcare 2.0: Websites to Help You Save on Doctors, Dentists, and Morehttp://www.wisebread.com/healthcare-20-websites-to-help-you-save-on-doctors-dentists-and-more
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<p>When I graduated college, there was a period of time that I was without health insurance. Two years, in fact.</p>
<p>During that time, I avoided the doctor at all costs and kept my fingers crossed that I wouldn't have an accident that would require me to visit the hospital. I already had plenty of school loans, and the last thing I needed was a sky-high medical bill that would plunge me further into debt.</p>
<p>Of course, that was nearly 10 years ago (I need a defibrillator &mdash; stat! &mdash; after writing that), and times have changed. Technology has brought us lots of resources to help manage healthcare bills and expenses. Here are six that I think you should know about. (See also:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-find-free-or-cheap-health-resources">How to Find Free (or Cheap) Health Resources</a>)</p>
<h2>Simplee</h2>
<p><a href="http://simplee.com/">Simplee</a> is like <a href="http://Mint.com">Mint</a> for your health costs. You can track health expenses (medical, dental, and pharmacy bills) based on you and/or your family&rsquo;s history. Simplee breaks it all down in an easy-to-understand dashboard. You can also shop for a health plan based on expenses and doctors.</p>
<h2>DentalPlans</h2>
<p>Many major insurance carriers offer <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/will-a-dental-discount-plan-save-you-money">discount plans in addition to traditional dental insurance</a>. You can search, compare, and select from more than 30 discount dental plans at <a href="http://dentalplans.offerit.com/track/MjAwMTAzLjI5LjI5LjMwLjAuMC4wLjAuMC4wLjAuMA">DentalPlans</a>. Just type in your ZIP code to find out what plans are available, how much they cost, and what dentists in your area participate.</p>
<h2>DRX</h2>
<p>Check out your prescriptions at <a href="http://www.destinationrx.com/default.aspx">DRX</a> for lower-cost generic equivalents and therapeutic alternatives to save money on your meds. DRX will also show you how much you can save by ordering through the mail or pill splitting, the latter of which can save you a lot of money when you ask the doctor for double the dosage and cut the pills in half when you get home.</p>
<h2>EyeBenefits</h2>
<p>Members of <a href="http://www.eyebenefits.com/">EyeBenefits</a> search an online database and receive significant discounts on vision care from providers in their area, including routine eye exams, contacts, lenses, and frames. There is a nominal fee associated with membership to EyeBenefits, but you may be able to take care of that with your <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/10-ideas-for-using-your-fsa-before-year-end">Flex Spending Account</a> (if you have one) to save you from having to pay for it out of pocket.</p>
<h2>eHealthInsurance</h2>
<p>At <a href="http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/">eHealthInsurance</a> you can compare the basics and find an affordable health policy available by type and ZIP code. The site will give you a list of plans by area, monthly premiums, deductibles, and co-pay and co-insurance amounts. You can also check to see if your current doctor is in-network.</p>
<h2>Healthcare Blue Book</h2>
<p>Find fair prices for surgery, hospital stays, doctor visits, and medical tests, based on the average fee that providers in your area accept as payment from insurers. <a href="http://www.healthcarebluebook.com/">Healthcare Blue Book</a> also provides money-saving tips for each procedure and a pricing agreement that makes it easier to negotiate with out-of-network providers.</p>
<p>Why should you think about looking into these pocket-protecting healthcare options? For starters, an estimated nine million adults have lost their health insurance in the past two years, according to a 2011 <a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/Fund-Reports/2011/Mar/Help-on-the-Horizon.aspx">report by the Commonwealth Fund</a>. In addition, an estimated 29 million people have used up all of their savings to pay medical bills. Our healthcare problem in the United States doesn&rsquo;t discriminate; lack of coverage can happen to anyone at any time. These resources will help you better manage the situation if you&rsquo;re ever in a financial bind or find yourself unemployed.</p>
<p><em>Do you have more healthcare resources that will save readers money? Let me know in the comments below.</em></p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/mikey-rox">Mikey Rox</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/healthcare-20-websites-to-help-you-save-on-doctors-dentists-and-more">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-1">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Consumer AffairsHealth and Beautydental discount planeye carehealth careWed, 23 May 2012 09:48:15 +0000Mikey Rox929322 at http://www.wisebread.comWill A Dental Discount Plan Save You Money?http://www.wisebread.com/will-a-dental-discount-plan-save-you-money
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<p class="MsoNormal">I have had the good fortune to experience a comprehensive dental insurance in my lifetime.<span>&nbsp; </span>For a small monthly premium (usually $27 or less), my family and I could enjoy twice-a-year cleanings, annual x-rays, and routine repairs with little or no out-of-pocket expenses.<span>&nbsp; </span>Now that I&rsquo;ve jumped headfirst into the world of self-employment, my days of enjoying low-cost dental coverage are gone.<span>&nbsp; </span>So I tried a dental &ldquo;discount&rdquo; plan for the first time ever.<span>&nbsp; </span>Here&rsquo;s what I have found.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>The cost of coverage varies</strong>.<span>&nbsp; </span>I personally pay less than $80 a year to cover my entire family under the discount plan.<span>&nbsp; </span>There are 6 of us, so this could be an excellent value in the long run.<span>&nbsp; </span>I would like to point out, however, that most plans run between $90 and $200 a year for similar coverage (we enjoyed a deep discount as part of a self-employed association group membership, which I paid separately for.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>The type of coverage varies.</strong><span>&nbsp; </span>For most plans, your actual benefit comes in the form of a &ldquo;discount&rdquo; off each billable service.<span>&nbsp; </span>This can come in the form of a percentage off your cost for each procedure, but most commonly equates to guaranteeing that you will pay &ldquo;no more than $XX&rdquo; for each particular billable service.<span>&nbsp; </span>Unlike insurance, your dental bill isn&rsquo;t sent to a payor to process, negotiate down, and return to you.<span>&nbsp; </span>This means you will most likely know at the time of service how much your visit has been &ldquo;discounted,&rdquo; and payment will be due at time of service.<span>&nbsp; </span>Cleanings, X-rays, fillings, caps, and most other common dental and orthodontic procedures are usually covered, if only at a small discount.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Your dental health may determine the value of a plan</strong>.<span>&nbsp; </span>Quite simply, if you are one of those fortunate folks who waltzes into your dentist for a twice-a-year-cleaning and one x-ray, with no additional services needed, this may not work out to your advantage.<span>&nbsp; </span>The cost of premiums have to be less than the cost of services to keep you from bleeding cash.<span>&nbsp; </span>If you don&rsquo;t see yourself going to the dentist regularly (or won't be needing any work done), you might want to calculate if you&rsquo;d be better off without the discount plan.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Your location can affect savings.</strong><span>&nbsp; </span>The first time I used my plan, my husband and I both went in for a regular cleaning, x-rays, and fluoridation.<span>&nbsp; </span>Upon presenting our discount, the receptionist informed us that we saved $10 on our $210 bill.<span>&nbsp; </span>This seemed strange to me, so I asked her what their normal cost of doing business was.<span>&nbsp; </span>It turns out, that since we are rural, and the cost to do business is low, they charge the same amount as the &ldquo;discounted&rdquo; price of our plan.<span>&nbsp; </span>We would have paid almost the same amount, regardless of using a discount plan.<span>&nbsp; </span>(And without the discount plan, I would have saved $80 in premiums.)<span>&nbsp; </span>In larger cities, where dental prices are higher, the discount plan could have more of a positive affect on your bottom line.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>You can utilize your HSA to save even more money.</strong><span>&nbsp; </span>Whether your dental plan was a good decision or not, you can still save some additional cash by using an Health Savings Account.<span>&nbsp; </span>The small amount of saved tax money, coupled with the discounts, might make it a sweeter deal than just paying cash.<span>&nbsp; </span>(My HSA gives me checks and a debit/credit card.<span>&nbsp; </span>Be sure to ask your dentist what kinds of payment they take, since you will most likely be paying at time of service.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Will I get a dental discount plan next year?<span>&nbsp; </span>Probably not.</strong><span>&nbsp; </span>Yes, I saved some money, but it was only because I ran into some unexpected fillings (7 to be exact.)<span>&nbsp; </span>The savings of $20 per filling, coupled with the $10 saved on my initial cleaning, would save me a grand total of $150 this year.<span>&nbsp; </span>Subtract the cost of my annual premium of $80, and I only saved a measly $70 (and this is with substantial work being done, which hopefully won&rsquo;t be repeated next year.)<span>&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would suggest looking at your dental discount plan from a strictly &quot;bottom dollar savings&quot; mentality.<span>&nbsp; </span>Call your dentist of choice, and see what they already charge for the most common services.<span>&nbsp; </span>Compare this cost with the cost you will incur under the savings plan.<span> </span>If there is a minimal difference between the two, you will know that the &ldquo;discount&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t much of a discount, after all!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But for those who could stand to benefit from a dental savings plan, <a href="http://dentalplans.offerit.com/track/MjAwMTAzLjI5LjI5LjMwLjAuMC4wLjAuMC4wLjAuMA">DentalPlans</a>&nbsp;is a great place to start looking for one that'll best fit your needs. The site allows users to search, compare, and select from more than 30 discount dental plans that offer savings of 10% to 60% off most dental procedures. Just type in your ZIP code to search available plans, dentists in your area who participate, and the costs of the plans. <strong><br />
</strong></p>
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<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/linsey-knerl">Linsey Knerl</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/will-a-dental-discount-plan-save-you-money">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-1">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Personal FinanceFrugal LivingBudgetingConsumer AffairsHealth and Beautydental discount planHealthsavingsSat, 15 Nov 2008 01:42:58 +0000Linsey Knerl2583 at http://www.wisebread.com